Stand out from the crowd: The Ultimate CV Masterclass for Software Engineers
Standing out when it comes to crafting a CV is a key part in the process of landing a dream job and making one that stands out is becoming of ever greater importance. 2023 has seen the biggest number of redundancies in the IT space in more than a decade meaning competition is at an all time high. According to Stackoverflow software engineering jobs receive almost double the amount of job applications compared to all other positions in the USA. You only have to check LinkedIn job postings to see that some roles are receiving 250+ applicants.
AI is also playing a bigger role in screening applicants so it is crucial to create a CV that serves multiple functions, from navigating Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to captivating a range of stakeholders including talent acquisition specialists as well as technical hiring managers.
Having read through tens of thousands of software engineering CVs over the years, we are going to explore the key ingredients that go into creating a CV that ensures you are perceived as a standout software engineer in a crowded job market.
1. Start with a Robust Professional Summary
Your summary should be a succinct, impactful snapshot of your career, skills, and what you uniquely bring to the table.
Be Concise: Limit your summary to 3-4 impactful sentences. This can include things like:
Why you entered a career in software engineering
What values are important for you in an employer
Customize: Ideally your summary should be tailored to the specific role and its requirements. For example where possible highlight your personal interests in the industry or field relevant to the company you're applying to. Another option would be to emphasise any personal connections with the product or service offered by the company.
Highlight Achievements: Mention one or two key achievements that can pique a hiring manager's interest. The more you can back up these achievements with figures and statistics, the greater impact they will have. For example, you could cite percentage improvements in performance, increases in revenue, etc
Highlight Technical Skills: This section is the perfect place to provide a brief overview of the technologies you are most experienced with, as well as those you are eager to work with in the future. However, it's crucial to keep the content relevant. For example, applicants for a Java position will often list six different programming languages, many of which they haven't used since a university project. Ensure this section is concise and directly fitting to the role you are applying for. Another key benefit of doing this is that since ATS systems are calibrated differently by each employer, tweaking keywords for each application can increase the chances of your CV passing through the filters.
2. Professional Experience: More Than Just a Timeline
Your experience section should narrate a story of your growth and achievements. Where possible use action verbs: Start descriptions with action verbs like “developed,” “led,” or “optimized.” Each Position should include the following:
2a. Project Descriptions: A Showcase of Your Engineering Skills
For each position the project portfolio you choose to include should reflect your technical skills and your ability to solve problems.
Highlight Relevant Projects: For each position you have worked on, choose projects that align with the job you’re applying for and detail your role and contributions.
Highlight Achievements: Focus on what you accomplished in each role, using quantifiable metrics.
Highlight Achievements & Use Metrics: Quantify your personal impact and achievements in each project, as well as highlighting what you as a team were ultimately able to achieve, where possible using quantifiable metrics.
2b. Technical Skills: Demonstrating Your Proficiency
As well as detailing projects and achievements, each position should also include a technical skills section, listing the technologies used within the project. Ideally your technical skills section should mirror the requirements of the job you’re targeting. It is also important to list only the technologies that you most predominantly worked on and for which you have a comprehensive understanding. These will most likely be targeted in technical interviews and you want to be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of all of the technologies you have included here.
List Relevant Skills: Include programming languages, frameworks, tools, and technologies relevant to the job.
Use Keywords: Ensure you use keywords that match those in the job description to get past ATS systems.
2c. Soft Skills: The Underrated Game-Changer
Soft skills can often be the differentiator in landing a job. After all, the ability to interact effectively with others can be more challenging to master than learning a certain technology or framework.
Highlight Key Soft Skills: Mention skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
Use Examples: Provide instances where your soft skills played a pivotal role in project success.
Balance with Technical Skills: Ensure a good mix of technical and soft skills to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate.
3. Education & Training
This is the section where you are going to demonstrate your educational background, and can also be a great place to demonstrate your general activity in the software engineering community, as well as a great way to demonstrate your ability to keep up to date with the latest technologies and trends.
3a. Certifications & Courses undertaken: Validating Your Expertise
Certifications can provide a benchmark of your skills and dedication to professional growth.
Choose Relevant Certifications: Opt for certifications that are most relevant and recognized in your discipline. Unless a certain certification is a strict requirement for your position, we would advise using those which are most up to date with current industry trends.
Include Details: Mention the certifying authority and the year of completion.
Include Links: Provide links to GitHub repositories or project demos to allow a deeper dive into your work. If you are unable to publish projects from the certification then a great way to demonstrate your capabilities can be by including links to relevant private projects you have worked on.
3b. Awards & Honours: This can range from an award presented by a former employee, Conference Honors awarded as a result of a keynote or paper being given, any open source contributions, winning or placing in any Hackathons or competitions, Scholarships and Fellowships: Being selected for competitive scholarships or fellowships, Peer Recognition Programs: Peer-nominated awards within professional networks or social platforms like GitHub Stars or Stack Overflow’s Reputation system
3c. Professional Affiliations & Community associations: Membership in professional bodies illustrates your commitment to staying connected and informed for example the Scrum Alliance, Data Science Association or DevOps Institute. This doesn’t have to be official, it can also be involvement in any industry specific meet-ups or networking groups.
3d. Volunteer Work: Volunteer experiences can reflect your dedication to community and your soft skills. This can range from mentoring and coaching, taking part in open source projects or providing support to Nonprofits.
4. About you section - a nice optional add on
The “about you” or personal interests section is a great opportunity to showcase who you are beyond your professional life. While it’s not a strict requirement, it can be an excellent way to display aspects of your personality, which can make a significant difference in a competitive environment.
People often simply list hobbies like 'running' or 'playing an instrument,' but a more engaging approach is to elaborate on these interests. For instance, if you play an instrument, mention whether you participate in a band or have been involved in any recording projects. If you're into running, describe what this involves, such as being a member of a running club or regularly participating in races or marathons.
Providing these details not only adds depth to your profile but also gives recruiters easy conversation topics for interviews. It might even reveal shared interests, which can be fantastic for building rapport and establishing a connection.
Here you can also add in things including:
- Languages spoken
- Sports & physical activities
- Artistic pursuits
- Writing and blogging
- Crafts & DIY Projects
- Gardening or environmental initiatives
5. References:
The final section you might consider including is information about your references. While not a requirement for your CV, adding details about your references can enhance your credibility and trustworthiness, and provide insights into your work ethic and personality. You have several options:
Include the names of your references, their positions, places of employment, and a brief summary of their comments regarding their experience of working with you. You could also consider adding full copies of written references in an appendix.
Alternatively, you can choose to provide the names and contact details of people who can attest to your professional abilities. This allows the hiring manager the opportunity to contact these individuals at a later date if necessary.
Another common approach is to state that references are available upon request. This is a good option if privacy and discretion are important to you.
Aesthetics and Readability: Ensuring a Smooth Read
Of course, the content and its quality are crucial, but the way it's presented is equally important. If a CV is difficult to read, there's a low likelihood that someone will thoroughly review your entire profile.
There's frequently a debate regarding the ideal length of a CV: should it be one page or several? For those with extensive career histories where condensing to a single page isn't feasible, a practical solution is to begin with a summary page, followed by more detailed sections. This method effectively addresses the issue of length.
When it comes to CV design and formatting, here are the most important points to consider:
Use a Clean Layout: Choose a straightforward, clean design with clear section headings.
Be Consistent: Maintain consistency in fonts, bullet points, and formatting throughout the CV.
Leverage White Space: Adequate white space is key for enhancing visual appeal and readability.
If design isn't your forte, don't worry—there are plenty of tools out there to help you create a well-designed and easy-to-read CV. These include:
Canva
CakeResume
Resume.com
ResumeGenius
GitConnected
KickResume
MyPerfectResume
CV Maker
Indeed
CoolFreeCV
Crafting a standout CV as a software engineer requires strategically blending your technical expertise, project impact, and soft skills, all while presenting them in a clean, reader-friendly format. Ensuring your CV is not just a chronicle of your career, but a carefully crafted narrative that highlights your key achievements and skills, is essential in paving your path towards securing that sought-after software engineering role.
If you're seeking personalized advice on how to tailor or optimize your CV, feel free to reach out to us at info@jenesis.tech.
